In the news this week: - Sam Lane New Marlins Coach
- The Job
- My Approach
- Helping Hand
- Love Of Manly
- The Drought
- The Reaction
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In the news this week: - Sam Lane New Marlins Coach
- The Job
- My Approach
- Helping Hand
- Love Of Manly
- The Drought
- The Reaction
|
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A quick note: As a 2024 player for either the Marlins or Mermaids, we have added you to the Marlins Fillets email list so you won't miss out on your weekly dose of Marlins news. |
Sam Lane New Marlins Coach |
Sam Lane New Marlins Coach |
At 33, Sam Lane is the youngest first-grade coach in Manly Rugby Club's 141-year history after officially being appointed to the post this week. Fresh off a grand final win with the Marlins' second grade side, he takes the reins from Chris Delooze, who has become fulltime attack coach with the Australian women's XV. Sam sat down with Marlins Fillets to discuss his ascension and plans for the future. |
At 33, Sam Lane is the youngest first-grade coach in Manly Rugby Club's 141-year history after officially being appointed to the post this week. Fresh off a grand final win with the Marlins' second grade side, he takes the reins from Chris Delooze, who has become fulltime attack coach with the Australian women's XV. Sam sat down with Marlins Fillets to discuss his ascension and plans for the future. |
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Sam has been around Manly rugby since his family moved to the area in 1997 after dad – and former Wallaby – Tim was appointed head coach. He was a six-year-old boy watching from the stands the day the Marlins won that year's premiership, going on to play in the juniors before eventually making his way through to the senior ranks and carving out an excellent first grade career. Moving into coaching was almost inevitable given his bloodlines, and success came almost instantly, with Sam joining forces with Harry Bergelin to guide second grade to the premiership late last month. Nearly three decades after his father's arrival, Sam has now been handed the keys to the first-grade team. "It's something I knew I wanted to get into and it's come a bit quicker than I envisaged, but with Chris moving on there was an opportunity," he said. "It's a big challenge but an exciting one. I feel ready for it." |
Sam has been around Manly rugby since his family moved to the area in 1997 after dad – and former Wallaby – Tim was appointed head coach. He was a six-year-old boy watching from the stands the day the Marlins won that year's premiership, going on to play in the juniors before eventually making his way through to the senior ranks and carving out an excellent first grade career. Moving into coaching was almost inevitable given his bloodlines, and success came almost instantly, with Sam joining forces with Harry Bergelin to guide second grade to the premiership late last month. Nearly three decades after his father's arrival, Sam has now been handed the keys to the first-grade team. "It's something I knew I wanted to get into and it's come a bit quicker than I envisaged, but with Chris moving on there was an opportunity," he said. "It's a big challenge but an exciting one. I feel ready for it." |
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Sam was a free-spirited player who didn’t always follow the game plan. "I don't know if I would have loved coaching myself as a player," he laughed. "I was probably a bit more off script than my coaches would have wanted." On his watch, Lane wants players to express themselves but play to a structure he will outline during pre-season training. Arguably his great strength is as a man manager. His players love playing under him and the respect is two-way. "In terms of what sort of coach I am, I'd say, first of all, I'm honest. Whether it’s good or bad news, I will let the fellas know how I am feeling," he said. "I definitely like things to be done the right way, but at the same time a big part of anything in life is if you're not enjoying what you're doing, you're probably not going to do what you're doing to your best abilities. "I am big believer that the human side comes first. A happy player is a better player. "I am someone that tries to instil that in players so that they can go out and back themselves. "I know there will be some hardships along the way but my coaching style will evolve over time. "I am energetic and ready to put the hard work in." |
Sam was a free-spirited player who didn’t always follow the game plan. "I don't know if I would have loved coaching myself as a player," he laughed. "I was probably a bit more off script than my coaches would have wanted." On his watch, Lane wants players to express themselves but play to a structure he will outline during pre-season training. Arguably his great strength is as a man manager. His players love playing under him and the respect is two-way. "In terms of what sort of coach I am, I'd say, first of all, I'm honest. Whether it’s good or bad news, I will let the fellas know how I am feeling," he said. "I definitely like things to be done the right way, but at the same time a big part of anything in life is if you're not enjoying what you're doing, you're probably not going to do what you're doing to your best abilities. "I am big believer that the human side comes first. A happy player is a better player. "I am someone that tries to instil that in players so that they can go out and back themselves. "I know there will be some hardships along the way but my coaching style will evolve over time. "I am energetic and ready to put the hard work in." |
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There will be no shortage of support around Lane, with good mate and second-grade co-coach Harry Bergelin joining him in 1s. Damien Cummins and Mike Perks, who worked under Delooze, are also backing up. And, just a phone call away, are two very knowledgeable rugby men more than happy to lend their expertise. The first is dad Tim, who was assistant to Rod Macqueen when Australia won the 1999 World Cup and carved out a successful international career in the ensuing years. The second is Sam's good mate and Manly local junior turned Wallaby skipper, Michael Hooper. Sam said: "I had a great coffee and chat with Hoops recently and his leadership and knowledge of the game, in particular the breakdown, will be something we'll definitely tap into when his availability allows. "He's certainly a nice voice and mind to be able to call on as a young coach." The new Marlins boss will also keep in contact with the old Marlins boss. "I learnt a lot from Chris and appreciate his support and guidance. He's definitely someone I will continue to keep in touch with," Sam said. |
There will be no shortage of support around Lane, with good mate and second-grade co-coach Harry Bergelin joining him in 1s. Damien Cummins and Mike Perks, who worked under Delooze, are also backing up. And, just a phone call away, are two very knowledgeable rugby men more than happy to lend their expertise. The first is dad Tim, who was assistant to Rod Macqueen when Australia won the 1999 World Cup and carved out a successful international career in the ensuing years. The second is Sam's good mate and Manly local junior turned Wallaby skipper, Michael Hooper. Sam said: "I had a great coffee and chat with Hoops recently and his leadership and knowledge of the game, in particular the breakdown, will be something we'll definitely tap into when his availability allows. "He's certainly a nice voice and mind to be able to call on as a young coach." The new Marlins boss will also keep in contact with the old Marlins boss. "I learnt a lot from Chris and appreciate his support and guidance. He's definitely someone I will continue to keep in touch with," Sam said. |
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Sam (pictured with dad Tim) credits Manly rugby for being there for him as he endured some tough times during his playing career, with injury striking at inopportune times. "It was at a difficult time in my life and Manly helped get my love of footy back," he revealed. "And obviously there is that family connection there, so it’s always been a special place for me and the family. "It's a real privilege and honour to be given the chance to coach the first-grade team." |
Sam (pictured with dad Tim) credits Manly rugby for being there for him as he endured some tough times during his playing career, with injury striking at inopportune times. "It was at a difficult time in my life and Manly helped get my love of footy back," he revealed. "And obviously there is that family connection there, so it’s always been a special place for me and the family. "It's a real privilege and honour to be given the chance to coach the first-grade team." |
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It's been 27 years since the Marlins last won the Shute Shield and nine years since we last played in a grand final. There have been numerous finals campaigns in that time but no silverware to show for it. "There is a strong core of players coming back and some second graders pushing through on the back of the grand final win, so we're not starting at Ground Zero," Sam pointed out. "Recruitment is vitally important these days so we will be having a look around to strengthen areas we think need strengthening. "There's a real feeling of unfinished business among the players. They didn’t feel like they put their best foot forward at the right times. "There's a real hunger to end that drought but we’ll need a lot of things to fall into place to make it happen. "The talent is definitely there." |
It's been 27 years since the Marlins last won the Shute Shield and nine years since we last played in a grand final. There have been numerous finals campaigns in that time but no silverware to show for it. "There is a strong core of players coming back and some second graders pushing through on the back of the grand final win, so we're not starting at Ground Zero," Sam pointed out. "Recruitment is vitally important these days so we will be having a look around to strengthen areas we think need strengthening. "There's a real feeling of unfinished business among the players. They didn’t feel like they put their best foot forward at the right times. "There's a real hunger to end that drought but we’ll need a lot of things to fall into place to make it happen. "The talent is definitely there." |
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With Delooze being courted by the Wallaroos, there was always a risk he would be stepping down at the end of the year. Lane was the obvious replacement. "I had the privilege of being coached by World Cup-winning Wallaby coach Tim Lane," Manly president Matt Curll (pictured) said. "In that context, I have been liaising closely with Sam and observing his coaching during the year to see how he stacked up. "I quickly formed the view, as did many others including Delooze, that he was our front runner replacement. "After undertaking some due diligence with the players, colleagues, the board and the community, we decided there would be no worldwide searches or prolonged interview process. "We interviewed Sam, he wanted the job, he addressed all our queries, so it was all pretty seamless in the end. "He obviously has a great connection and affinity with the club and enjoys the respect of everyone at Manly. He is well regarded by our elite Manly Rugby representative players, some of whom he played with, and there is a lot of goodwill in supporting his success and the club's success, which is great too. "I have every faith Sam and his team will build on the existing culture, improving our coaching, player retention and other fitness support initiatives that I think are going make us even stronger throughout the grades. "It really is a great local community story, rewarding success." Club captain Doughal O'Reilly added: "Sam lives and breathes Manly. The way he managed to bring the 2s boy together under do-or-die circumstances was incredible. "He'll bring that to the 1s squad and continue with that winning mentality." Life member, superfan and former player and committee member Adam Hill said: "I’m personally thrilled to have Sam coaching first grade. "He has been around Manly rugby a long time and has proved himself both as a player and a coach. He has the talent. "His win in second grade this year was fantastic and he obviously has the support of the playing group to go one step higher." |
With Delooze being courted by the Wallaroos, there was always a risk he would be stepping down at the end of the year. Lane was the obvious replacement. "I had the privilege of being coached by World Cup-winning Wallaby coach Tim Lane," Manly president Matt Curll (pictured) said. "In that context, I have been liaising closely with Sam and observing his coaching during the year to see how he stacked up. "I quickly formed the view, as did many others including Delooze, that he was our front runner replacement. "After undertaking some due diligence with the players, colleagues, the board and the community, we decided there would be no worldwide searches or prolonged interview process. "We interviewed Sam, he wanted the job, he addressed all our queries, so it was all pretty seamless in the end. "He obviously has a great connection and affinity with the club and enjoys the respect of everyone at Manly. He is well regarded by our elite Manly Rugby representative players, some of whom he played with, and there is a lot of goodwill in supporting his success and the club's success, which is great too. "I have every faith Sam and his team will build on the existing culture, improving our coaching, player retention and other fitness support initiatives that I think are going make us even stronger throughout the grades. "It really is a great local community story, rewarding success." Club captain Doughal O'Reilly added: "Sam lives and breathes Manly. The way he managed to bring the 2s boy together under do-or-die circumstances was incredible. "He'll bring that to the 1s squad and continue with that winning mentality." Life member, superfan and former player and committee member Adam Hill said: "I’m personally thrilled to have Sam coaching first grade. "He has been around Manly rugby a long time and has proved himself both as a player and a coach. He has the talent. "His win in second grade this year was fantastic and he obviously has the support of the playing group to go one step higher." |
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